Compare towns
Dedham vs Mansfield vs Sullivan vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Dedham | Mansfield | Sullivan | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
23,931 |
687Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
41.4±1.3Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Sullivan and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$125,273±$15k 55% above U.S. |
$106,667±$20kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 99% above U.S. |
$603,500±$28k 81% above U.S. |
$236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 45% above U.S. |
$1,803±$147 28% above U.S. |
$1,225±$275Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 154% above U.S. |
$7,226 132% above U.S. |
$5,099Lowest 63% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±84.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA | — | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Mansfield | — | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Mansfield High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.